We love all things Mexican: the vibrant culture, the flavorful cuisine, and the beautiful spirits. The highly congested corporate area of Midtown West is probably one of the last places we thought we would head to experience a taste of Mexico, but the recently opened Vida Verde completely changed and blew our minds. Inspired by his hometown of Mazatlan, Mexico, Chef Hugo Orozco along with the team behind Tanner Smith’s, created a truly special gem in Vida Verde.
The dual-level colorful concept greets you with a stunning mural of Frida Kahlo and agave artworks hand-painted by Mexican-born artist Victor Marka. There is a bar on each level of the venue and, speaking of the bar, the drinks are legit. The cocktail menu was crafted by Lucas Wilde and beverage director Kevin Doherty with a heavy focus on agave spirits and classics with Mexican twists and tongue-in-cheek names like Fake News and The Border Crossing.
We sampled several of their cocktails including their signature Vida Verde with Snap Pea Infused Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Sour Orange, and Tarragon. The Tal Hugo, an homage to Chef, is made with Bourbon, Hibiscus, Egg White, Lemon and Ancho Reyes. The Piñata Colada with house-made Horchata, Pineapple Rum, Bourbon, Pineapple, and Coconut.
We are suckers for a good frozen cocktail and Vida Verde has two available ($13):
Viva La Frida – Blanco Tequila, Orange Curacao, Mango Puree and Bell Pepper
The Rose of Mexico – Rosé, Blanco Tequila, Pomegranate, Cassis, Clove, Lemon, Lime, Morita Pepper
Chef Hugo explains of Vida Verde, “I want to bring life and interaction back to the dining experience, which authentic Mexican food does best. Every bite should be a talking point between our guests. Sustainability is incredibly important to us, we focus on reducing food waste by using each ingredient to its fullest from the kitchen to the bar. I want people to share an experience and taste the best that Mexico has to offer.” Bravo and felicidades Chef Hugo, we will be dreaming of your housemade tortillas until we return.
Pro-Tips:
- Great spot for After-Work cocktails
- All of Chef Hugo’s dishes are made to be shared, so go with a group to taste a LOT of it
- Don’t sleep on the salads, The Three Sisters and Chicken Pozole salads are both money
- Ask for the full spirits menu with an impressive list of Mezcal and Tequila, as expected, but also boasts several Sotol and Raicilla offerings
Vida Verde details
248 West 55th Street, Midtown West, NYC
(646) 657-0565
vidaverdeny.com / @vidaverdenyc
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